2.4 ghz connection woes on Pro broadband

[RobbyRob07]

Hi all, beginning to suspect I'm on a lost cause, but here goes! Recently had broadband Pro fitted, all good until I began to try and connect all our 2g bulbs /plugs-smart life/tapo apps that run through Alexa. For the life of me I cannot get any of them to connect in the normal way. Thought that this hub ran both but it would seem you cannot separate 2/5 in the hub. I'm outside the 14 days so can't return it. It seems this is a common issue after looking on here so I'm wondering if anyone has come up with a solution that an I.T. amateur like myself might be able to try? Many thanks! 

[CrimsonLiar]

Certainly, with the TAPO devices, you'll need to remove them from the TAPO app, then reset and repair them one at a time.  Alexa should pick up the changes automatically, Google home will require you to tell it to sync the device names.

Or, you could change the WiFi SSID and password to what they used to be with your old router.

If you've a more complex set-up issue then turning the router off and setting up a 2.4GHz hotspot on a mobile that spoofs the VF router WIFi and passwords can help to set up the devices.  When everything is done, turn the hotspot off and the router back on.

[Jayach]

It may be possible to set the router to 2.4Ghz only whilst setting up the devices, unless they have removed that on Pro.

[RobbyRob07]

Thanks, I've tried to do that already and I can't find a way to switch off 5g in the hub settings, there doesn't seem to be an option for it. 

[CrimsonLiar]

The menu system on the VF routers is not the most intuitive in the world.  If the option is there, you probably first need to change the router settings from basic to advanced (or expert).  It's a setting near the top of the router's Web UI and away from most other options!

[RobbyRob07]

Thanks for the help everybody - 9v on the way to being sorted now. Got the tapo plugs connected by using the hot spot on my phone to connect them and the switching the hub back on and connecting to that to complete the registration. However, no such luck with the old smart life bulbs. Have just tried a new Meross bulb though and got it connected in the same way as the tapo plugs so looks like I'll have to replace the bulbs. Well, you live and learn I guess! Thanks again for the help, much appreciated! 

[RobbyRob07]

In the end I connected a TP range extender which meant I could split g the 2.4/5g. Once I connected to the 2.4g network through the range extender I was able to connect everything back up the way it was. 

[Jayach]

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@RobbyRob07 wrote:

In the end I connected a TP range extender which meant I could split g the 2.4/5g. Once I connected to the 2.4g network through the range extender I was able to connect everything back up the way it was. 

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That is probably the easiest way to do it, but not everybody has one handy, or wants to purchase one just for this purpose.

But hopefully your post will give people another way to solve the problem.

[RobbyRob07]

Luckily, I already had one lying around that I had forgotten about! Like you said, it may help someone if they are having the same issue 👍